Worcester centre Josh Matavesi has vowed never to put cash before his country again and spoken of his desperation to represent Fiji at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

The Cornish-born play-maker told Mercury Sport he regrets turning his back on the chance to play for the land of his father’s birth in 2011.

Mercurial Matavesi was playing for Top 14 outfit Racing Metro when he was named in the Fiji squad for the tournament in New Zealand.

And, while he was keen to go, he admits he was talked into staying in Paris by the club’s big hitters – a decision he now describes as ‘stupid’.

It is also a mistake he is determined not to repeat and Warriors fans can be certain his international prospects will be on the agenda when it comes to negotiating a new contract at Sixways.

“Looking back, I was stupid last time to turn it down,” Matavesi says. “I wish I had gone, it’s an experience you would never forget.

“I would be lucky to go to the next one. Not many players can just turn down a World Cup and say ‘Maybe next time’.

“I was put under a lot of pressure from the coaches at Racing. I was halfway on the plane, halfway not on the plane. I was about to leave the day after and the coach pulled me aside, the president was with him, and said ‘A few boys aren’t going, we can offer you this if you don’t go.’

“At the time, the missus was pregnant, I wasn’t on a lot of money.

“In hindsight I was stupid, I missed an experience that millions of people would love to go to. Especially in New Zealand.

“Now I have got more control over me and my rugby, the World Cup is a big thing for me. I won’t ever turn that down again.

“That’s a massive goal for me, knowing I have got a shot at playing fly-half is a great thing.

“I practise my goal-kicking every day, I just keep on top of that and keep working on my game.”

Matavesi has six caps for the Pacific Islanders but has not played since appearing at Twickenham a year ago.

He was hopeful of being selected for this year’s autumn internationals against Italy, Portugal, Romania and the Barbarians but a concussion suffered with Warriors in Oyonnax in October meant he had to pull out, meaning he will have to battle for his place in Inoke Male’s hugely-gifted squad. His desire not to miss RWC 2015 demands he spends next summer playing in the Pacific Nations Cup, where he will try to win the No 10 shirt from other contenders like Seremaia Baik-einuku and Waisea Luveniyali.

“It’s the biggest goal you could achieve,” he explains. “Ever since I was young, eight or nine years old, I have always said I wanted to play in a World Cup.

“I am in a good position mentally and physically I am getting in good shape.

“I love playing fly-half for Fiji. Playing No 10 for Fiji is probably just the easiest job in the world because you have so much talent outside you don’t have to do anything – just pass the ball. They can just spark something.”

And the prospect is even more enticing given the fact his brother Sam, who plays for Championship outfit Plymouth, has recently broken into the national set-up.

The back- rower made his debut in the PNC against Canada last year and was selected again for the victory in Bucharest and against the Baabaas.

“This summer in the PNC there will be a chance to play with my brother. I haven’t played with him since the under-14s or under-15s,” said Josh.

“It wasn’t so good back then because we just used to fight with each other. Hopefully it’s not the same any more.

“We used to belt ten bells out of each other back then but we have grown up just a little bit.

“And there’s my youngest brother Joel still to come – he’s 17 and he’s the best one out of us all.